Harvesting Tool

ABSTRACT

A paddle tine for use over a pickup tine previously fixed with a harvester reel tube of a harvesting header comprises an elongated body having a central cavity therethrough and is adapted to slide over the pickup tine of the harvester reel tube. An attachment mechanism, such as one or more resilient clips with a fastening clip, is fixed with the proximal end of the elongated body to secure the paddle tine to the harvester reel tube over the pickup tine. Two opposing paddle webs project laterally away from the elongated body proximate the distal end.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Utility patentapplication Ser. No. 15/214,117, filed on Jul. 19, 2016, andincorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to harvesting equipment, and more particularly toa paddle tine for use with a harvester reel tube.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Typical harvesting headers include a plurality of thin pickup tinesfixed with a rotating harvester reel tube that rotates to sweep cropsinto the header machine. In some instances it is desirable to include alarger “paddle” type tine for feeding more of the crop into the headermachine. Slipping a paddle tine over the existing pickup tine isdesirable so that the pickup tine does not have to be removed, and sothat the reel can be converted back to the standard thin pickup tines bysimply removing the auxiliary paddle tines.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that is easily installed over anexisting pickup tine on a harvester reel tube. Such a needed inventionwould be relatively rigid and durable so as to handle the forcesexperienced during use. The present invention accomplishes theseobjectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a paddle tine for use with a pickup tine fixedwith a harvester reel tube of a harvesting header or other machine. Thepaddle tine comprises an elongated, rigid body having a central cavitytherethrough from a proximal end thereof to proximate a distal endthereof. The elongated body is adapted to slide over the pickup tine ofthe harvester reel tube.

An attachment mechanism is fixed with the proximal end of the elongatedbody. Preferably the attachment mechanism includes one or more resilientclips. In some embodiments each resilient clip includes a relativelyresilient inner portion fixed within a relatively rigid outer portion.

In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism further includes a pair ofloops projecting away from each of the clips, such that the paddle tinemay be slid over the pickup tine and secured to the harvester reel tubewith the resilient clips, a pair of plastic, resilient fastening tiesbeing threaded through each of the loops and about the harvester reeltube to further secure the paddle tine to the harvester reel tube. Insome embodiments these fastening ties are replaced with hook-and-loopfastening strips. In some embodiments the fastening ties orhook-and-loop fastening strips are applied to embodiments of the paddletine devoid of the loops.

Two opposing paddle webs project laterally away from the elongated bodyproximate the distal end. Preferably each of the two opposing paddlewebs includes a reinforced bottom portion having a thickness greaterthan a web portion thereof.

In some preferred embodiments, the attachment mechanism includes atleast one retaining ledge formed as part of each resilient clip. Aresilient fastener clip is further included for encompassing the harvestreel tube and at least a portion of the resilient clips. The fastenerclip has inwardly-projecting flanges, such that the retention clip maybe secured over the harvest reel tube and the resilient clips of theproximal end of the elongated body to secure the paddle tine to theharvester reel tube.

The present invention is a device that is easily installed over anexisting pickup tine on a harvester reel tube. The present device isrelatively rigid and durable so as to handle the forces experiencedduring use. Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a harvester reel tube having pickuptines fixed therewith, the paddle tine of the present inventionpositioned over the pickup tines;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention showing two differenttypes of attachment mechanisms;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken along line 4-4of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view showing a fastener clip explodedaway from a distal end of an elongated body of the paddle tine;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of FIG. 5 but with the fastener clipaffixed with the distal end of the elongated body; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5B through alongitudinal axis of the elongated body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. Thefollowing explanation provides specific details for a thoroughunderstanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. Oneskilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practicedwithout such details. In other instances, well-known structures andfunctions have not been shown or described in detail to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or pluralnumber also include the plural or singular number respectively.Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similarimport, when used in this application, shall refer to this applicationas a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Whenthe claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or moreitems, that word covers all of the following interpretations of theword: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and anycombination of the items in the list. When the word “each” is used torefer to an element that was previously introduced as being at least onein number, the word “each” does not necessarily imply a plurality of theelements, but can also mean a singular element.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a paddle tine 10 for use with a pickup tine 16fixed with a harvester reel tube 15 of a harvesting header or othermachine (not shown). The paddle tine 10 comprises an elongated, rigidbody 20 having a central cavity 25 therethrough from a proximal end 22to proximate a distal end 28 thereof. The elongated body 20 is adaptedto slide over the pickup tine 16 of the harvester reel tube 15 (FIG. 4).As most pickup tines 16 are curved or arched, preferably the elongatedbody 20 is arched from the distal end 28 to the proximal end 22 from aside view (FIG. 4). A front side 21 of the elongated body 20 forms aconcave face 24 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The front side 21 and rear side 29preferably each include a longitudinally-aligned notch 50 for receivingtherein portions of the pickup tine 16. Preferably the elongated body 20is made from a rigid injection-molded plastic material.

An attachment mechanism 30 is fixed with the proximal end 22 of theelongated body 20. Preferably the attachment mechanism 30 includes oneor more resilient clips 31 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). In some embodiments eachresilient clip 31 includes a relatively resilient inner portion 36 fixedwithin a relatively rigid outer portion 35, the resilient inner portion36 accommodating a shoulder of the pickup tine 16.

In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism 30 includes a pair ofloops 32 (FIG. 2) projecting away from each of the clips 31, such thatthe paddle tine 10 may be slid over the pickup tine 16 and secured tothe harvester reel tube 15 with the resilient clips 31, a pair ofplastic, resilient fastening ties 33 being threaded through each of theloops 32 and about the harvester reel tube 15 to further secure thepaddle tine 10 to the harvester reel tube 15. In some embodiments thefastening ties 33 are replaced with hook-and-loop fastening strips 34.In some embodiments the fastening ties 33 or hook-and-loop fasteningstrips 34 are applied to embodiments of the paddle tine devoid of theloops 32 (not shown), and simply fasten around the resilient clips 31.

Two opposing paddle webs 40 project laterally away from the elongatedbody 20 proximate the distal end 28. Preferably each of the two opposingpaddle webs 40 includes a reinforced bottom portion 41 having athickness greater than a web portion 42 thereof (FIGS. 1 and 3).

In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism 30 includes at least oneretaining ledge 37 (FIGS. 5A-6) formed as part of each resilient clip31. Such a retaining ledge 37 preferably is oriented facingsubstantially towards the distal end 28 of the elongated body 20. Afastener clip 60 is further included for encompassing the harvest reeltube 15 and at least a portion of the resilient clips 31. The fastenerclip 60 has inwardly-projecting flanges 65 and is resilient, such thatthe retention clip 31 may be secured over the harvest reel tube 15 andthe resilient clips 31 of the proximal end 22 of the elongated body 20to secure the paddle tine 10 to the harvester reel tube 15.

Preferably in such embodiments a distal side of the resilient clips 31each include a smooth outer surface 38 (FIG. 5A) from the retainingledge 37 to the proximal end 22 of the elongated body 20, such that theinwardly-projecting flanges 65 of the fastening clip 60 contact thesmooth outer surface 38 to separate the inwardly-projecting flanges 65apart as the resilient fastening clip 60 engages the resilient clips 31.Once the inwardly-projecting flanges 65 clear the retaining ledges 37the inwardly-projecting flanges 65 snap back toward each other to engagethe retaining ledges 37 and maintain the elongated body 20 on theharvester reel tube 15. Further, each resilient clip 31 preferablyincludes an outer lip 39 to laterally retain the resilient fasteningclip 60 thereon.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except asby the appended claims.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology isassociated. In general, the terms used in the following claims shouldnot be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsdisclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Descriptionsection explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope ofthe invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but alsoall equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned inthis disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described above for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachingsof the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, notnecessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of thevarious embodiments described above can be combined to provide furtherembodiments.

All of the above patents and applications and other references,including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, areincorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can bemodified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and conceptsof the various references described above to provide yet furtherembodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “DetailedDescription.” While the above description details certain embodiments ofthe invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter howdetailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced inmany ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably whilestill being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As notedabove, particular terminology used when describing certain features oraspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that theterminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specificcharacteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which thatterminology is associated.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certainclaim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of theinvention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventorreserves the right to add additional claims after filing the applicationto pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paddle tine for use with a pickup tine fixedwith a harvester reel tube, comprising: an elongated body having acentral cavity therethrough from a proximal end to proximate a distalend, the elongated body adapted to slide over the pickup tine of theharvester reel tube, the central cavity being only open at ends thereof,enclosing the pickup tine therein; and an attachment mechanism fixedwith the proximal end of the elongated body; the attachment mechanismincluding one or more resilient clips fixed with opposing sides of theproximal end of the elongated body, each clip having at least oneretaining ledge oriented facing substantially towards the distal end ofthe elongated body; the attachment mechanism including a fastener clipadapted to encompass the harvester reel tube and at least a portion ofthe resilient clips, the fastener clip having inwardly-projectingflanges adapted to engage and hold the retaining ledges of the resilientclips; whereby the paddle tine may be slid over the pickup tine andsecured to the harvester reel tube by securing the retention clip aboutthe harvester reel tube, the fastener clip then being fastened over theharvester reel tube and the resilient clips of the proximal end of theelongated body to secure the paddle tine to the harvester reel tube. 2.The paddle tine of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the elongated bodyfurther includes two opposing paddle webs projecting laterally away fromthe elongated body proximate the distal end;
 3. The paddle tine of claim1 wherein the elongated body is arced from the distal end to theproximal end when looking at the elongated body from either side.
 4. Thepaddle tine of claim 1 wherein front and rear sides of the elongatedbody proximate the proximal each include a longitudinally-aligned notch.5. The paddle tine of claim 2 wherein each of the two opposing paddlewebs include a reinforced bottom portion having a thickness greater thana web portion thereof.
 6. The paddle tine of claim 1 wherein a distalside of the resilient clips each include a smooth outer surface from theretaining ledge to the proximal end of the elongated body, whereby theinwardly-projecting flanges of the fastening clip contact the smoothouter surface to separate the inwardly-projecting flanges mutually apartas the fastening clip engages the resilient clips, whereby once theinwardly-projecting flanges clear the retaining ledges theinwardly-projecting flanges snap back towards each other to engage theretaining ledges.